His reply comes instantly.
Noah
Practice just ended. We were thinking D2?
I can’t wipe the smile off my face, though a tiny, nagging voice wonders if he’s reaching out because he doesn’t want his roommates to know he was ghosting me. That doesn’t stop me from offering to bring food, because I know my brothers are always starving after practice.
Noah
Just bring your beautiful self.
* * *
I made almond pastries at my grandfather’s yesterday, so I swing by my dorm to pick them up, then walk to the house on Ivy. Their vehicles are in the driveway, so I walk up and knock, though my initial instinct is still to let myself in.
“Savannah’s here!” Michael calls when he opens the door. “How’s it going?”
“Good. How was practice?”
I follow him inside and put my coat on one of the hooks, shuffling off my boots while Michael heads back to the kitchen, and Noah rushes down the stairs.
“Good,” Michael assures me. “Ready for the Classic.”
“Do you get to go home as well, or…”
My brothers always had less time off than your average student, and many years we followed them to whatever sporting event they put on a holiday.
“We’ll get about a week in L.A. before we have to be in Florida,” Mike shares. “But a huge chunk of Owen’s family is coming to watch, so they’ll make sure it’s holiday central.”
“That’s nice,” I say, but Noah is looking at my lips like he wants to taste them again. My heart beats faster, but David and Colt come out and Noah notices the Tupperware I’m carrying.
“I told you not to bring anything,” he warns.
“They’re almond pastries. Do you guys have any allergies?”
“Shellfish,” Mike shares.
“Pineapple.” Colt sighs.
“No foods,” David assures me.
“Then dig in,” I encourage, but hands are already in the container.
“Savannah, this is the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth,” Mike tells me.
“That’s what she said,” Colt murmurs before Noah whacks him in the chest.
“You said you already ate, right?”
I can see what’s left of a casserole on the stove, with a fresh plate in case I wanted some.
“I took a break about an hour ago.”
“Perfect.”
Noah goes to the stove, which has a pot on it, and divides the contents – milk maybe – into six mugs, which he proceeds to stir. Then he goes to the fridge and covers the tops with whipped cream while David adds marshmallows.
“Sorry, Emmy’s birthday. What did I miss?” Owen comes down the stairs.
